Although Boston College is no Alabama or Georgia in terms of producing NFL-caliber talent, the school has quietly built and maintained a significant presence in the league! Especially over the past decade, Lyons’ late night milkshakes and Flat Bread sandwiches—and maybe Bill O’Brien—have almost certainly revolutionized player development here on the Heights, fueling the success of numerous Pro Bowlers.
Currently, there are 16 Eagles active in the NFL and three more on practice squads or injured reserve. This ranks 30th amongst all Division 1 FBS teams. Nine of these 16 players are the starters on their respective teams!
Last April, three BC players were drafted within the first five rounds of the NFL Draft: defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku to the Dallas Cowboys, offensive tackle Ozzy Trapilo to the Chicago Bears, and center Drew Kendall to the Philadelphia Eagles.
You might also remember the bruising running back Kyle Robichaux from last year. I still remember falling off the bleachers and crashing into the girl ahead of me celebrating his 34-yard touchdown run against Syracuse last season. Robichaux earned himself a roster position on the Detroit Lions, however is currently on the injured reserve.
For all you die hard BC football fans,don’t worry, we can’t forget about the two other undrafted free agents: defensive lineman Cam Horsley, who was signed by the Tennessee Titans, and offensive tackle Jack Conley, signed by the New England Patriots.
The three drafted rookies have received limited snaps through the first few weeks of the season. All three are currently listed second for their positions on their team’s official depth charts. However, Ezeiruaku has managed to carve himself a role on the Cowboys’ defense as a situational pass rusher, playing about a third of the Cowboys’ defensive snaps per game. Ezeiruaku enjoyed a breakout performance against the Packers on Sept. 28, earning three quarterback pressures, matching his season total to that point in one game.
Ezeiruaku hopes to join the growing list of star BC defensive lineman in the NFL, including Zach Allen and Harold Landry.
Allen signed a 4-year, $102 million contract with the Denver Broncos this offseason, which ranked third in annual salary among all interior defensive linemen, after a stellar 2024 season. Through four games, Allen has logged 1 sack and 8 total tackles.
Landry was released by the Titans following the 2024 season. The Patriots wasted no time and immediately signed Landry to a 3-year, $43.5 million contract just a few days later. Landry has recorded 3.5 sacks, which ranks 9th in the NFL through the first month.
The position group in the NFL with the most Eagles is the offensive line. Zion Johnson and Christian Mahogany are starters for the Los Angeles Chargers and Detroit Lions, respectively. In addition, Chris Lindstrom, the three-time All-Pro guard for the Atlanta Falcons, is arguably the best BC player currently in the NFL. Lindstrom has played every snap for the Falcons thus far, allowing zero sacks, while accumulating a 91.3 PFF grade, the highest amongst all offensive guards.
In addition, linebacker Matt Milano and wide receiver Zay Flowers have been stellar in the league. After receiving First Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors in 2022, Milano’s past few seasons have been plagued with injuries. This year has been no different. During the Bills’ Week 2 game against the Jets, Milano suffered a pectoral injury, leaving him sidelined for the past two weeks. Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott has not provided a timetable for his return.
The blazing fast Flowers, after his 2024 Pro Bowl season in which he received the most prestigious award in all of sports, the Nickelodeon NVP, is continuing to cement himself as an elite WR1 in the NFL. I like to think the cardio he got walking up the Million Dollar Stairs contributed to his 4.42 second 40-yard dash time. Through four weeks he ranks seventh in total yards and 10th in receptions amongst all receivers. Flowers’ Week 1 performance was particularly electric. He tallied 7 catches for 143 yards and a touchdown against the Bills.
With former NFL head coach Bill O’Brien at the helm, the recent success of BC players in the NFL is only the beginning of what I believe to be a BC takeover in the NFL! Make sure you follow the development of these Eagles—paying special attention to the trenches—for the remainder of the season.
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